Canelo Alvarez vs Erislandy Lara: The four city press tour

July 24th is traditionally the hottest day of the calendar year in the northern hemisphere. But on Saturday, July 12th, the two best fighters in the Junior Middleweight division could heat things up to a sweltering inferno within the squared circle.

Former WBC/WBA Super Welterweight Champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (43-1-1, 31 KOs) will take on avoided Cuban technician Erislandy Lara (19-1-2, 12 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in one of the more highly anticipated match-ups of the 2014 boxing schedule.

This week, both fighters are traveling on a four city tour to promote the upcoming Showtime PPV event, which will more than likely be accompanied by a stacked undercard of competitive preliminary bouts.

The Golden Boy Promotions caravan will park in Los Angeles, California, San Antonio, Texas, New York City, New York, and wind things up in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Friday afternoon.

With fight fans already turning up in droves for the LA and SA tour stops, the eventual meeting between Canelo and Lara will more than likely be a stark success; especially with the news that the anticipated Super Middleweight clash between Chavez Jr. and Golovkin will more than likely not take place the following weekend.

The 23 year old, two-time world champion is excited to finally get the opportunity to silence his opponent on July 12th.

"I took this fight because the fans wanted it," claims Canelo Alvarez. "and after I kept reading and hearing interviews with Lara about how badly he wanted this fight, I'm going to please the fans and myself by fighting him."

"He said some bad things about me on twitter and other social media outlets. I'm a Mexican, and I know all of the tricks in the ring. You can't say the kinds of things he said and not have to answer for them in the ring."

"I don't take anything he said personally, but he likes to talk. I will give him the opportunity to say anything he wants to me in the ring on July 12th."

For the last several years, the crafty southpaw from Cuba has been chasing Canelo, insisting that the popular Mexican fighter has been "ducking" him and electing to face lesser opposition.

The Cuban exile will finally get his wish on July 12th, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I've never tried this hard to get a fight, and actually get it like I did for this match-up," claims Erislandy Lara. "I admit that I went to extreme measures, doing things I've never done before. I'm usually a pretty laid-back guy, but I did everything I could to challenge him and make people, the fight fans and the boxing media, demand that he fight me."

"It's all because I want to prove that I'm the best 154 pound fighter in the world. I think he is having problems with the weight. That's why he wanted that extra pound and why we won't be fighting for my title on July 12th."

Although the upcoming bout will decide the best recognized fighter in the Junior Middleweight division, the fight will be held at a catch weight of 155 pounds.

While the 31 year old southpaw is not looking past his hard punching adversary, Lara insists that he wants the pound for pound king after he takes care of business on July 12th.

"This is the fight...this is my fight," claims the crafty Cuban fight veteran. "When I win this, I will have earned the right to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. next."

Former five division world champion and boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya also had much to say regarding the terrific Junior Middleweight prizefight.

"Canelo is one of the most compelling fighters today," claims the Golden Boy of boxing. "At only 23 years of age, he's already been a professional fighter since 2005. He won the WBC Junior Middleweight title in 2011, and defended it 11 times."

"Canelo has victories over Austin Trout and Alfredo Angulo...he was also in the mega-event last Sept. 13th against Floyd Mayweather. Now, he is back, giving the fans what they want. This is most difficult challenge at 154 pounds for Canelo. To please his fans, he is facing the toughest guy in the division, Lara."